For over 18 months the RIBA has been working with a Trailblazer Group of 20 architectural practices co-ordinated by Peter Garstecki of Foster + Partners to develop two Apprenticeship Standards: Architectural Assistant (Part 1) and Architect (Part 2 and Part 3) which have now been approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships.

This vital initiative will help us to improve the diversity of our profession, to attract young people to study architecture and provide more accessible routes to qualification and employment opportunities. The exposure to contemporary architectural business will be a major benefit for students and practices will also benefit from the challenge of a new commitment to developing talent.

The new Apprenticeship Standards will help to encourage the widest talent pool and address the underrepresentation of architects from lower socio-economic backgrounds who, without parental support, face barriers to full-time education.

The RIBA will now work hard to broker relationships between practices and schools to meet the potential of this new route to qualification and create the infrastructure for life-long learning in practice.

Adding this new route to the existing range of RIBA validated full and part-time and practice-based options for studying architecture is an excellent step in creating a profession that’s far more accessible to young people from any background, and I am excited to work with our practices going forward as we put the wheels in motion and follow the journeys of the very first architecture apprentices.”

4. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates http://www.twitter.com/RIBA